Trenton Oldfield said he had been privately-educated for four years but left and went to a state school because he "couldn't stand the elitism".

The annual contest yesterday was dubbed "possibly the most dramatic Boat Race in history" after the wet suit-clad swimmer was spotted in the vessels' path and the competition had to be restarted almost half an hour later.

The 35-year-old posted a series of messages on Twitter today, saying: "With the severe deficit in democracy new sites of protest unfortunately have had to be found" and "if its jail time, so be it" (sic).

Oldfield, an Australian who studied contemporary urbanism at the London School of Economics and says he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, has a website called Elitism Leads to Tyranny, which discusses civil disobedience tactics.

He replied to a barrage of messages from both supporters and detractors today.

He also noted: "75% of judges, 70% of finance directors, 45% of top civil servants and 32% of MPs have been privately educated."

He told followers: "Elitism is an idea, a way of living/seeing not what background you have."

Oldfield will appear at Feltham Magistrates' Court on April 23 charged with a Section Five offence under the Public Order Act, Scotland Yard said.

Meanwhile British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan said that police and security chiefs "can never completely remove" the threat of disruption at London 2012.

In four months' time, crowds will line the route at a string of Olympic events including the open water swimming in Hyde Park as well as the marathon, triathlon and road cycling.

Lord Moynihan, a former Olympic rowing silver medallist, said "every conceivable scenario" was being reviewed to ensure the Games ran smoothly but conceded: "It just takes, and is likely to be, one idiot."

He told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "It's not likely to be a well-orchestrated campaign through Twitter or websites.

"It is likely to be someone similar to the idiot yesterday who causes major disruption.

"That is why all the security measures need to be put in place to minimise the chance of that happening.

"You can never completely remove it but you can do everything possible to protect the interests of the athletes by minimising it."

He added: "It is so important to work closely with police and security agencies and to put in place every possible measure to protect the interests of all the athletes.

Oldfield has been charged with a public order offence

"In many respects that is the biggest ask of the Games: you are not just talking about the competitions, you are talking about the pre-Games training camps. Athletes will come well in advance based around the country, you've got the torch relay coming up, the public need to be protected...

"It's not impossible but it is a major challenge. You can never get it perfect unless you remove all the crowds and nobody is going to dream of doing anything like that."

The Metropolitan Police said it was working with the Games organisers and protest groups in an effort to prevent any demonstrations from adversely affecting the events.

A spokesman said: "The incident that occurred at the Boat Race not only put the protester in danger but also the participants in the race.

"The Metropolitan Police is working with the organisers of the Olympic Games as well as protest groups to ensure that we facilitate lawful protest. We will work with groups which wish to protest so their points can be made but without impacting on the running of the games.

"The nature of the Boat Race means that its course of over four miles presents particular policing challenges.

"We are confident that the plans we have in place will enable the delivery of a safe and secure Olympic Games."

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The Boat Race is halted as the RNLI lead away swimmer Trenton Oldfield

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Alexander Scharp and the Cambridge crew celebrate winning the Xchanging University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University on the River Thames on April 7, 2012 in London, England. It is the 158th running of the race which takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Boat Race Umpire John Garrett restarts the Xchanging University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University on the River Thames on April 7, 2012 in London, England. It is the 158th running of the race which takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

The Cambridge team take part in the Veteran's University Boat Race on the River Thames in London.

Cambridge (left) and Oxford take part in the Veteran's University Boat Race on the River Thames in London.

The crowd on the riverbank before the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, at Chiswick Bridge in west London

Mayor of London Boris Johnson meeting Truffles the dog during campaigning before the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, at Chiswick Bridge in west London.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson meeting Truffles the dog during campaigning before the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Oxford Cox Zoe De Toledo reacts following the Xchanging University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University on the River Thames on April 7, 2012 in London, England. It is the 158th running of the race which takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: Boat Race Umpire John Garrett restarts the Xchanging University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University on the River Thames on April 7, 2012 in London, England. It is the 158th running of the race which takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: The Cambridge (L) and Oxford (R) crews come together resulting in a broken blade for the Oxford crew during the Xchanging University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University on the River Thames on April 7, 2012 in London, England. It is the 158th running of the race which takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)